Watched a medium size hawk trying to catch a sparrow hawk they made a few laps around the house then they went out over the lake. I thought the smaller kestrel was a goner but they headed back to land. The little guy started to climb higher (I thought that was a bad move) but the big one did not follow it just headed straight at the same level.

Those kestrels are very elusive hawks. I used to watch them every day when I trapped Kansas. They would be sitting on all the high wires along the highway. They had some moves like Jagger when getting voles and other food sources that fly. I can see them out winging larger hawks due to their abilities I have witnessed. They have this flutter move and could hover like a helicopter.